IFP fetes faves in Gotham

By VARIETY STAFF

Although the Independent Feature Project moved its annual Gotham Awards to a more spacious venue this year, there still wasn't much room for table-hopping at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday night.

Some 1,000 people turned out to honor Miramax Films co-chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein, filmmaker Errol Morris, actor Kevin Kline, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, animator Faith Hubley and first-time director Macky Alston.

Gwyneth Paltrow proclaimed herself the Weinsteins' little sister, and read tributes sent by President Bill Clinton, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Minghella, Wes Craven, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier, and Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal.

"You have no idea how independent these guys are," said Walt Disney Studios chairman Joe Roth, who oversees Miramax at its corporate parent Disney and served as chair of this year's Gothams.